Synthetic ground cover

ABSTRACT

A ground cover element, comprising an elongated support member, at least one anchoring member, and a plurality of lateral extensions supported by the elongated support member. Each of the lateral extensions has a wood chip, mulch, leaf, lava rock, peastone gravel, pebble, tree bark chip, wood stick, marble chip, rock, grass, or stone appearance. Placing a number of the invented objects around the base of a building or other structure creates a ground cover that prevents erosion, retards fire, and suppresses the growth of unwanted vegetation. The size of the invention allows for arrangement of the ground cover around structures of varying shape.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to landscaping materials. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a synthetic ground cover.

BACKGROUND

It is often desirable to suppress plant growth and provide ground coverin certain ground regions for ornamentation, erosion control, and fireprotection. Ground cover is typically used in areas along the sides of adriveway or around the periphery of a porch or building.

Different types of ground cover have generally included applying to apredetermined ground region ornamental pebbles, lava rocks, mulch, woodchips, or other artificial ground coverings. Types of ground cover suchas pebbles, lava rocks, and wood chips can become easily displaced whenexposed to wind and rain and foot traffic from humans and animals. Assuch, these types of ground cover must maintained and replacedperiodically so that they remain in the area that they are intended tocover, which raking and maintenance involves a cost and time commitmenton the part of the building owner seeking the benefit of ground cover.

Mulch and woodchips are typically used to provide an aestheticallyappealing appearance and to retain underground moisture. Most mulchesare made from small chunks of bark, shredded wood and/or sawdustprocessed from trees, i.e. natural wood materials. Because mulches andwood chips are made from natural materials, they eventually decomposeand fade in color. Due to this decomposition and fading, mulches andwoodchips are typically replaced on an annual basis.

Various types of synthetic ground cover have been developed to overcomemany of these deficiencies commensurate with natural types of groundcover. Different types of synthetic ground cover have been described indetail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,317,309; 5,615,971; and 5,910,514.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,309, Sheldon discloses a device for suppressingplant growth within a predetermined region of ground. The devicecomprises a plurality of relatively flat opaque pieces that may beinterconnected in an arbitrary pattern. With regard to structure, thedevice requires that individual pieces be linked together to perform theintended function. While the device may be used to suppress plantgrowth, the appearance of the ground cover device does not simulate orotherwise resemble that of natural ground cover, thereby making itaesthetically unappealing. Furthermore, the device requires that theindividual components be linked together physically, thus limiting thepossible spatial arrangements of the components as ground cover.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,971, Boeve discloses a ground covering elementthat consists of a plurality of components that must also be linkedtogether in order to achieve the intended ground cover. The components,once linked, form a mesh that serves as the ground cover. Similar to the'309 patent, the ground covering element requires linking of individualcomponents and does not have the appearance of natural ground cover.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,514, Greenberg et al. disclose synthetic woodchips that consist of rubber particles and a colorant that is used togive the particles the appearance of a natural mulch. The synthetic woodchips are formed by shredding larger pieces of vulcanized rubber and arespread over the intended landscape in the same manner that traditionalnatural mulches are spread. These synthetic wood chips have the sameproblem as traditional ground covering in that they do not include acomponent by which the products can be anchored to the ground that theycover. Thus the synthetic wood chips suffer the same problem presentedby natural wood chips, pebbles and rocks, namely, that they are subjectto displacement by wind, rain, or human or animal traffic.

While various types of synthetic ground cover are known, these types ofground cover do not allow for a random arrangement of components thattake the appearance of natural ground cover while being anchored to theground sought to be protected. As such, there is a need for ground coverthat simulates the appearance of natural mulches and other groundcovers, that can be installed in a random arrangement of its componentpieces, and that can be anchored to the ground so as to resistmeteorological or animal forces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein, is a synthetic ground cover comprising a plurality ofground cover elements. The plurality of ground cover elements may beplaced about a section of ground in an overlapping and/or abuttingposition with respect to one another so as to cover the entire sectionof ground.

Each ground cover element comprises an elongated support member, aplurality of irregularly shaped lateral extensions extending from theelongated support member, and at least one anchoring member attached tothe elongated support member and/or one or more of the lateralextensions. Each of the lateral extensions may have one or more surfacecharacteristics selected from grooves, ridges, striations, depressions,and dimples. The lateral extensions may have the appearance of mulchclusters. The lateral extensions may also comprise a plurality ofinterconnected irregularly shaped chips. The plurality of interconnectedchips may have a staggered or random arrangement with respect to oneanother. Each of the plurality of interconnected irregularly shapedchips may have one or more surface characteristics selected fromgrooves, ridges, striations, depressions, and dimples. Each of theplurality of chips may have the appearance of a leaf, wood chip, lavarocks, peastone gravel, pebbles, tree bark chips, wood sticks, marblechips, stones, grass, or rocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, is a depiction of an embodiment of the present invention wherebyeach lateral extension resembles wood chips.

FIG. 2, is a depiction of an embodiment of the present invention wherebyeach lateral extension resembles leaves.

FIG. 3, is a depiction of an embodiment of the present invention wherebyeach lateral extension resembles a cluster of mulch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a syntheticground cover. The synthetic ground cover has the form of natural woodchips, mulch, or plants and provides an aesthetically appealingappearance. The synthetic ground cover may also provide fire retardationand retain moisture for shrubbery while suppressing growth of undesiredplants. The synthetic ground cover also retains its position more sothan traditional natural ground cover such as pebbles, rocks, woodchips, and mulch upon exposure to water and wind. Furthermore, thesynthetic ground cover is resistant to ultraviolet radiation andtherefore will retain color longer than organic types of ground cover.

FIG. 1, is a depiction of a preferred embodiment of a synthetic groundcover element 10A in accordance with the present invention. Thesynthetic ground cover generally comprises one or more ground coverelements 10A. Each ground cover element comprises a support member 20, aplurality lateral extensions supported by the support member, and one ormore anchoring members 30. The plurality of lateral extensions mayextend laterally from the ends and/or sides of the support member. Theone or more anchoring members 30 may be attached to and extend downwardor at a downwardly angle from the elongated support member and/or one ormore of the plurality of lateral extensions. The one or more anchoringmembers secure the synthetic ground cover to the ground on which it isplaced.

The support member 20 may be any structure that supports the pluralityof lateral extensions. Preferably, the support member is an elongatedrod with a circular, triangular, square, rectangular, or polygonal crosssection. The support member may be integral with or detachably connectedto the one or more lateral extensions and the one or more anchoringmembers. While the length of the support member may vary as needed,preferably the support member has a length of approximately one foot.

The anchoring means 30 may comprise any type anchoring structure thatsecures the support member and/or one or more of the lateral extensionsto the ground. The anchoring means may comprise an anchoring memberextending downwardly or at a downward angle from the support memberand/or one or more of the lateral extensions. The anchoring member 30may be an elongated rod. The elongated rod may have a circular,triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or X-shaped cross section.The rod may also include one or more barbs that help to secure theanchor in the ground. While the anchor may vary in length, preferablythe length of the anchoring rod is approximately three inches.

Each of the one or more lateral extensions may comprise a plurality ofinterconnected chips 40. Each of the chips may have an irregular shapewhere one or more of the width, length, and thickness of the chips arevaried throughout each chip. One or more of the chips may have a jaggededge. The shape of each chip 40 may be the same or differ from oneanother. The surface of each of the chips may also have one or surfacecharacteristics selected from grooves, ridges, striations, depressions,and dimples. The plurality of chips on each of the lateral extensionsmay have a staggered or random arrangement with respect to one another.Furthermore, two or more of the lateral extensions may beinterconnected. Each of the plurality of chips may have a wood chipappearance as depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, as depicted in theground cover element 10B of FIG. 2, each of the plurality of chips 50may have a leaf appearance. For chips having a leaf appearance 50, thechips may resemble the shape of any type leaf from plants or trees.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG.3, each of the lateral extensions of the ground cover element 10C maycomprise a single member having an irregular shape whereby one or moreof the width, length, and thickness of the lateral extension 60 isvaried throughout each lateral extension 60. Furthermore, each lateralextension 60 may have one or more holes disposed therein. The shape ofeach lateral extension 60 in the ground cover element 10C may be thesame or differ from one another. The lateral extensions may also beinterconnected with one another. The surface of each of the lateralextensions may have one or more surface characteristics selected fromgrooves, ridges, striations, depressions, and dimples. Each of thelateral extensions 60 may also have a jagged edge. The lateralextensions may have the appearance of clusters of mulch. The lateralextensions may also have the appearance of lava rocks, peastone gravel,pebbles, tree bark chips, wood sticks, marble chips, stones, grass, orrocks.

The ground cover elements in accordance with the present invention maybe comprised of a polymeric material or rubber material. Examples ofvarious polymeric materials that may be used to manufacture the groundcover elements are polypropylene, polyethylene, PET, and polyvinylchloride. The ground cover elements may be painted or may includepigments which give the ground cover elements the appearance of woodchips, mulch, or plants. Preferably, the paint or pigments are resistantto ultraviolet light and do not fade over time.

Each ground cover element may be manufactured as a single piece or thesupport member, the lateral extensions, and the anchoring member may beproduced separately with subsequent assembly. The synthetic ground covermay be produced via various molding processes known in the art.Preferably, the synthetic ground cover is formed via an injectionmolding process.

When used to cover a section of ground, a plurality of the ground coverelements is placed about the ground adjacent to one another. As eachground cover element is placed onto the ground, the anchoring member isinserted into the ground and prevents movement of the ground coverelement. The ground cover elements may overlap or abut each other suchthat the entire section of ground is covered.

While there have been described what are believed to be the preferredembodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art willrecognize that other and further changes and modifications may be madethereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it isintended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue scope of the invention.

1. A synthetic ground cover element comprising: an elongated supportmember; a plurality of irregularly shaped lateral extensions extendingfrom said elongated support member; and at least one anchoring memberattached to said elongated support member and/or one or more of saidirregularly shaped lateral extensions.
 2. The synthetic ground coverelement according to claim 1, wherein said lateral extensions have oneor more surface characteristics selected from grooves, ridges,striations, depressions, and dimples.
 3. The synthetic ground coverelement according to claim 1, wherein each of said lateral extensionscomprises a plurality of interconnected irregularly shaped chips.
 4. Thesynthetic ground cover element according to claim 3, wherein saidplurality of interconnected irregularly shaped chips have a staggeredarrangement with respect to one another.
 5. The synthetic ground coverelement according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of interconnectedirregularly shaped chips have a random arrangement with respect to oneanother.
 6. The synthetic ground cover element according to claim 3,wherein each of said plurality of chips have one or more surfacecharacteristics selected from grooves, ridges, striations, depressions,and dimples.
 7. The synthetic ground cover element according to claim 3,wherein said plurality of chips resembles one or more selected from thegroup consisting of lava rocks, peastone gravel, pebbles, tree barkchips, wood sticks, marble chips, stones, grass, and rocks.
 8. Thesynthetic ground cover element according to claim 3, wherein saidplurality of chips have a mulch appearance.
 9. The synthetic groundcover element according to claim 3, wherein each of said plurality ofchips have a leaf appearance.
 10. The synthetic ground cover elementaccording to claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of chips have awood chip appearance.
 11. A synthetic ground cover comprising: aplurality of ground cover elements, each ground cover elementcomprising: an elongated support member; a plurality of irregularlyshaped lateral extensions extending from said elongated support member;and at least one anchoring member attached to said elongated supportmember and/or one or more of said irregularly shaped lateral extensions.12. The synthetic ground cover element according to claim 11, whereinsaid lateral extensions have one or more surface characteristicsselected from grooves, ridges, striations, depressions, and dimples. 13.The synthetic ground cover element according to claim 11, wherein saidplurality of lateral extensions has the appearance of one or moreselected from the group consisting of lava rocks, peastone gravel,pebbles, tree bark chips, wood sticks, marble chips, stones, grass, androcks.
 14. The synthetic ground cover element according to claim 11,wherein each of said lateral extensions comprises a plurality ofinterconnected irregularly shaped chips.
 15. The synthetic ground coverelement according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of interconnectedchips have a staggered arrangement with respect to one another.
 16. Thesynthetic ground cover element according to claim 14, wherein saidplurality of interconnected chips have a random arrangement with respectto one another.
 17. The synthetic ground cover element according toclaim 14, wherein each of said plurality of chips have one or moresurface characteristics selected from grooves, ridges, striations,depressions, and dimples.
 18. The synthetic ground cover elementaccording to claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of chips have aleaf appearance.
 19. The synthetic ground cover element according toclaim 14, wherein each of said plurality of chips have a wood chipappearance.
 20. The synthetic ground cover according to claim 11,wherein said plurality of ground cover elements overlap and/or abut oneanother.